Salem, W. Va. – As Mountain East Conference (MEC) play approaches next week, the Wheeling University Baseball team (9-4, 0-0) is getting ready with their final non-conference series of the preseason. The Cardinals played the first two games of the three-game set on Saturday when they battled Salem University. It would be a sweep of the day for Wheeling as they picked up a 1-0 win in game one and followed it up with a 7-4 victory to wrap up the day.

Game One: Wheeling 1, Salem 0

In game one of the series, the Cardinals were looking to set the time and they did just that with their ace taking the hill. Kody McCarley made his fourth start of the season and for the third straight game, he would twirl a complete game gem to earn the victory. He was nearly perfect on the day, allowing just six base runners, three hits and three walks, while striking out seven on the day. He had two 1-2-3 innings on the day, in the third and sixth innings and also twirled his second straight complete game shutout. He drops his ERA on the season to 1.48 and currently holds the second lowest ERA among eligible pitchers in the conference. He has not allowed an earned run over his last 15 innings of work and has blossomed into a strong leader for the rotation.

Meanwhile, the Cardinal's offense was having struggles of their own, as they put up one run on the day. Kobe Hill and Christian Boyles each singled in the first two innings, but that was the only offense Wheeling had to show as the game sat at 0-0 after three. Then, in the top of the fourth, the Cardinals were finally able to break through as Jacob Murray singled to start the inning. Spencer Craig would follow with a walk before both runners stole a base to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Thomas Kegerreis would reach on a Fielder's Choice as Murray was cut down at the plate, but Braeden Killens would come through with an RBI single that brought home Craig and made it 1-0. That would end up being the only run scored all day as the Cardinals took the series opener and moved to 8-4 on the season.

Killens would drive in the only run of the game and finished 1-3 with an RBI to lead the Cardinals. Jacob Murray was the only multi-hit player for the Cardinals, finishing 2-3, while Kobe Hill and Christian Boyles each picked up hits to round out the day. The Cardinals headed into game two looking to get the bats going and come up with a sweep.

Game Two: Wheeling 7, Salem 4

In game two, pitching would once again set the tone early on as Kenny Jinks got the start for the Cardinals. He retired the side 1-2-3 in the first inning and, after allowing a leadoff single in the second, came back and forced a double play that made it 0-0 after two. The top of the third began with a Sammy Kondroik walk and a Nick Ancelet single before both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. Kobe Hill would then lift a sacrifice fly to left to bring home the first run and Pete Toula would add an RBI single to put the Cardinals out in front 2-0. After a fly out for the second out of the inning, Scott Kondroik would step in and double to score Toula and extend the Cardinal's lead to 3-0. Kondroik would get to third on a wild pitch but was stranded there as Wheeling led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the third.

After Salem added their first run of the day in the bottom of the third, the Cardinals were right back at it in the fourth when Lucas Rawlins walked to start the inning. Sonny Peluchette would follow with a walk and Nick Ancelet followed suit two batters later to load the bases with one out. A wild pitch would bring home the first run of the inning and Hill followed with a two RBI double that had the Cardinals ahead 6-1 after three and a half innings of play. Jinks held Salem to just the one run through the first five innings of play, but Salem would get their bats going with a three spot in the bottom of the sixth. Jinks was pulled after getting the first two outs, and finished the day going 5.2 innings allowing four runs, three earned, on 10 hits while walking one and striking out five. Kyle Dalton would finish the inning and Wheeling led 6-4 after six innings. 

Wheeling would add a big insurance run in the top of the seventh when Pete Toula got things started with a one out walk. Murray added a single and a wild pitch moved both runners to second and third. Scott Kondroik would lift a sacrifice fly to left scoring Toula and making it a 7-4 Wheeling lead. Hunter Dyck entered the game in the bottom of the seventh, and had to deal with some base runners S the Tigers loaded the bases with two outs. However, Dyck would finish things off with a flyout to left and he earned his second save of the season as the Cardinals held on to win 7-4.

Kobe Hill led the way from the top of the Cardinal's batting order, going 1-3 with three RBI. Scott Kondroik added a two RBI game of his own and finished 1-2 with a double. Pete Toula added an RBI of his own, while going 1-3 with two runs scored, and Nick Ancelet scored two runs of his own. The Cardinals have now swept the first two games of the three-game series and looks for the sweep on Sunday.

The Wheeling Baseball team takes on Salem in game three of their three-game series on Sunday with first pitch at 11:30 AM.